Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 1

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks**
**Chapter 1: It’s Time to Wake Up**

Zane Vance’s childhood infatuation, the one that had nestled in the depths of his heart for over ten long years, had finally returned to their homeland after completing her studies abroad. The air was thick with nostalgia, and Zane felt a mix of excitement and dread at the thought of seeing her again.

But then, in a haze of distraction, he forgot their planned meeting to choose her wedding dress. To add insult to injury, he had bestowed the Vice President position at his thriving company upon the very same woman, a decision that left Darcy Gale standing outside his office, her heart pounding with confusion and concern.

She could hear the muffled voices of Zane and his friend, their conversation seeping through the closed door like a bitter breeze. “Weren’t you going to give the VP role to Darcy? She’s your fiancée-to-be,” his friend asked, a hint of disbelief in his tone.

Zane’s response was dismissive, almost callous. “Is that necessary? I’m the CEO of SummitCore Tech.” His words cut through the air, sharp and unyielding.

A wave of bitterness rose in Darcy’s throat, a sour reminder of her place in Zane’s life. She had sacrificed so much for him, and yet here he was, seemingly indifferent to her presence.

After a moment of silence, his friend pressed on, “After all this time, you still haven’t gotten over Zora, have you?”

Zane’s voice turned rough, laden with unhealed wounds. “The one you couldn’t have in your youth will haunt you for the rest of your life. For me, Zora is that person.”

Darcy felt a memory, long buried in the shadows of her mind, claw its way to the surface. She recalled a night, many years ago, when Zane had murmured Zora’s name in his sleep. At the time, she had dismissed it as mere nonsense, a figment of a dream. But now, the signs had been there all along, lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be acknowledged.

Frozen in place, a sharp, piercing pain spread through her chest like wildfire. She wanted to turn away, to escape this moment of revelation, but a morbid curiosity kept her anchored to the spot. She pressed her hand against her mouth, stifling the sobs that threatened to escape, tears cascading down her cheeks like heavy raindrops.

His friend hesitated, sensing the tension in the air, and finally said, “But you and Darcy are getting engaged soon.”

Zane’s reply was chilling. “I will marry Darcy. Not for love, but out of duty. Once her mother is out of the hospital after her surgery, we’ll hold the engagement ceremony as planned.”

With those words, Zane extinguished the last flicker of hope that had dared to linger in Darcy’s heart. So, he had never truly loved her.

Seven years ago, Darcy had been captivated by Zane at first sight during a lively campus social. Their romance blossomed quickly, a whirlwind of youthful passion. But five years ago, when Darcy received the acceptance letter to her dream graduate program, she had torn it up without a second thought, choosing to stand by Zane as he pursued his ambitious dreams of starting a company. Together, they had built SummitCore Tech, which had now transformed into an industry unicorn, valued at over a billion dollars.

Just a month ago, during a casual dinner, Zane had casually proposed the idea of their engagement. There had been no ring, no romantic gestures, but Darcy had felt elated nonetheless. Little did he know how long she had been waiting for this moment. Without hesitation, she had agreed, and Zane had simply nodded, his expression neutral. “Okay. We’ll go look at wedding dresses after your business trip.”

Today marked her return from that trip, and she had rushed straight to the bridal shop, her heart fluttering with anticipation. But hours passed—she waited from 2 PM until 6 PM, and Zane never showed. Her calls and texts went unanswered, leaving her with a gnawing sense of dread.

Driven by a mix of hope and anxiety, she had made her way to his office, only to be met with the harsh reality of his “heartfelt truths.”

Five years of selfless sacrifice, of unwavering love, had all been a cruel joke! It was time to wake up from this dream that had turned into a nightmare.

With tears streaming down her face, she wiped them away, gathered her suitcase, and walked away from the office, her heart heavy with despair. Just as she reached the street below, her phone rang. It was the bridal shop.

“Ms. Gale, we’re still holding the dress for you. When should we expect you and Mr. Vance?”

Looking at the flickering neon lights of the city, a self-deprecating smile crept onto her lips. “Don’t bother. We’re calling off the engagement,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

A gasp echoed from the other end of the line before Darcy hung up abruptly. She felt utterly drained, both physically and emotionally. The thought of returning home was overwhelming; her mother was about to be hospitalized, and she didn’t want to add to her worries.

After a moment of contemplation, she decided to hail a taxi to a nearby hotel for the night. She needed space to gather her thoughts and regain her composure.

As she waited by the curb, a message finally pinged on her phone from Zane. “Sorry, was in back-to-back meetings this afternoon. Couldn’t make it to the fitting. You decide on the dress. You’re on leave starting tomorrow. Take a rest. Handle the engagement preparations. I’m swamped with work.”

Darcy’s heart sank further. She had already requested this month-long leave before her trip, intending to care for her mother during her surgery and to plan their engagement. Now, it seemed the latter was no longer relevant.

But her mother’s surgery was still on schedule. She couldn’t postpone that. She would take the leave as planned.

Her fiancé’s old flame steals her VP promotion, and it’s “fine”?

Tch. No wonder they call her Zane’s lapdog. Her tolerance is something else.

Zane had specifically asked Kaia not to disclose Zora’s hiring to Darcy yet. The post had been meant for Darcy’s eyes only, and Kaia had anticipated that Darcy would confront Zane, create a scene, but nothing happened.

Darcy hadn’t even dared to ask.

What a coward.

Kaia couldn’t hide her disappointment as the call ended.

After hanging up, Darcy made her way downstairs for breakfast, her heart heavy with unresolved feelings. She prepared to catch a taxi home when a WhatsApp message suddenly illuminated her screen.

“Ms. Gale, have you considered my proposal from yesterday?”

The sender was Jethro Blackwood, heir to the prestigious Blackwood Group.

Before Darcy could even begin to formulate a response, another message followed quickly.

“My offer is sincere. I truly want you to join Stratagem Tech as CEO.”

CEO? A subsidiary of the Blackwood Group needed to hire an external CEO?

Darcy’s grip tightened around her phone as she stared at the screen, her mind racing with possibilities and uncertainties.